We picked out his first day of school clothes and folded them in a neat little pile next to his bed. The only thing left on this night before the first day of school to cuddle, chat a little. The whole day long my chest felt like leather: cool, smooth, pliable, worn. Feelings pooling there as I work through the process of the end of this warm, beautiful summer we've spent together and the expanse of another new year of learning and growth and independence ahead. I told him I loved his so much. Told him that this summer has been one of the best of my life. I told him that I was so excited for him to start first grade; that I would bet it's going to be pretty awesome-opossum. He fell asleep and I stood over him and read aloud these words from Brene Brown's book Daring Greatly. I kissed his soft cheek and went to bed full.
"Above all else, I want you to know that you are loved and lovable. You will learn this from my words and actions... You will learn that you are worthy of love, belonging, and joy every time you see me practice self-compassion and embrace my own imperfections. We will laugh and sing and dance and create. We will always have permission to be ourselves with each other. No matter what, you will always belong here. As you begin your Wholehearted journey, the greatest gift that I can give you is to live and love with my whole heart and to dare greatly."
